healthhttp://wrvo.org
enCoalition works to push for state laws restricting chemicals in toyshttp://wrvo.org/post/coalition-works-push-state-laws-restricting-chemicals-toys
<p></p><p>Toxic chemicals lurk in some of the popular children’s toys purchased in stores in Onondaga County, according to a report released this week by the group Clean and Healthy New York. The group hopes the study will force New York state lawmakers to keep hazards like this out&nbsp;of the state.</p><p></p><p>Bobbi Chase Wilding, deputy director for Clean and&nbsp;Healthy New&nbsp;York, points an X-Ray Floresance Analyzer at a children’s&nbsp;xylophone,&nbsp;purchased at a local dollar store. &nbsp;</p><p></p>Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:56:00 +0000Ellen Abbott71047 at http://wrvo.orgCoalition works to push for state laws restricting chemicals in toysDelays in care at Syracuse VA due to an 'anomaly,' health center sayshttp://wrvo.org/post/delays-care-syracuse-va-due-anomaly-health-center-says
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The Syracuse VA Medical Center is seeing more than nine in 10 patients in a timely fashion, according to a review of six months of patient appointment records, but an “anomaly” in one area of care shows veterans waiting more than three months to be seen by a doctor.</span></p><p>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:16:28 +0000Ryan Delaney70826 at http://wrvo.orgDelays in care at Syracuse VA due to an 'anomaly,' health center saysGillibrand teams up with unlikely partners to support medical marijuanahttp://wrvo.org/post/gillibrand-teams-unlikely-partners-support-medical-marijuana
<p></p><p>New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is teaming up with an unlikely group of colleagues to push for more federal support of medical marijuana.</p><p>Gillibrand is one of three senators introducing a bill that would scale back federal enforcement of marijuana laws in states that have legalized medicinal or recreational pot.</p><p>She is co-sponsoring the bill with a fellow Democrat from New Jersey, Sen. Corey Booker, and Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul. They introduced the legislation Tuesday at a press conference in Washington.</p>Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:09:50 +0000Ryan Delaney69495 at http://wrvo.orgGillibrand teams up with unlikely partners to support medical marijuanaNew York ranks 49th for registered organ donorshttp://wrvo.org/post/new-york-ranks-49th-registered-organ-donors
<p></p><p>New York state is among the bottom in the nation for residents signed up to be organ donors. <a href="http://wrvo.org/post/new-york-organ-donations-lag-far-behind-national-average" target="_blank">Only about a quarter of New Yorkers</a> have consented to being organ donors, according to the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network.</p><p>That ranks the state 49th in the country. But it has the third highest need for organs.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:53:50 +0000Ryan Delaney68574 at http://wrvo.orgNew York ranks 49th for registered organ donorsHealth officials worried about rapid rise in syphilis caseshttp://wrvo.org/post/health-officials-worried-about-rapid-rise-syphilis-cases
<p></p><p>Central New York is experiencing a massive increase in the number of cases of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis. While the overall number is low, health officials are worried about the trend.</p><p>From its near eradication nationwide at the turn of the 21st century, syphilis cases in Onondaga County doubled from 2012 to 2013. And then doubled again last year. They’ve risen 1,800 percent since 2008.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">That only amounts to 56 total cases last year, up from three in 2008.&nbsp;</span></p>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 10:01:00 +0000Ryan Delaney68342 at http://wrvo.orgHealth officials worried about rapid rise in syphilis casesThis week: how to protect yourself from measles, and removing the stigma of mental illnesshttp://wrvo.org/post/week-how-protect-yourself-measles-and-removing-stigma-mental-illness
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Measles was said to have been eliminated from the United States in 2000. Continuous transmission of the contagious disease was halted, thanks to widespread vaccination, and for decades measles was not a problem within our borders. Many of today’s doctors -- vaccinated as children -- have never cared for a patient sick with measles.</span></p><p>Now an outbreak that began at Disneyland has infected people in multiple states and underscored the importance of vaccinations in preventing the disease.</p>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 22:21:58 +0000HealthLink on Air68066 at http://wrvo.orgThis week: how to protect yourself from measles, and removing the stigma of mental illnessAnother bump in flu cases in Onondaga County, after weeks of leveling offhttp://wrvo.org/post/another-bump-flu-cases-onondaga-county-after-weeks-leveling
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>After a few weeks of leveling off, flu cases in central New York have seen another spike.</p><p>Now in the heart of influenza season, Onondaga County health officials’ weekly total of reported cases was the highest of the season, so far.&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5;">That's in contrast to&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/surveillance/2014-2015/flu_report_current_week.pdf" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">statewide numbers</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">, where reported cases declined five percent last week.&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;The county documented 316 cases for the week ending Jan. 31. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">That’s after four weeks of reported cases between two and three hundred.</span></p><p></p><p>Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:58:06 +0000Ryan Delaney68009 at http://wrvo.orgAnother bump in flu cases in Onondaga County, after weeks of leveling offHealthy living program on Syracuse's Near West Side gets grant to expandhttp://wrvo.org/post/healthy-living-program-syracuses-near-west-side-gets-grant-expand
<p>A program to encourage healthy living in one of Syracuse’s most low income neighborhoods is getting a big funding push.</p><p>The New York State Health Foundation is giving the Lerner Center at Syracuse University a quarter million dollars to expand its healthy eating and exercise program on the city’s Near West Side. The Lerner Center is working with Nojaims Supermarket and the fairly new <a href="http://wrvo.org/post/st-josephs-primary-care-center-syracuses-westside-provides-one-stop-shop-patients" target="_blank">St. Joseph’s hospital health clinic</a> that’s right next door.</p>Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:19:05 +0000Ryan Delaney67794 at http://wrvo.orgHealthy living program on Syracuse's Near West Side gets grant to expandBad influenza outbreak continues to spread throughout New Yorkhttp://wrvo.org/post/bad-influenza-outbreak-continues-spread-throughout-new-york
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">A bad flu virus continues to spread through the community, as flu cases in </span>Onondaga<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> County are up five-fold from this time last year.</span></p><p>The flu is coming early and often for much of the United States, according to health officials, and central New York has not been spared.</p>Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:31:00 +0000Ryan Delaney66704 at http://wrvo.orgBad influenza outbreak continues to spread throughout New YorkFlu virus already hitting Onondaga County hard with two deathshttp://wrvo.org/post/flu-virus-already-hitting-onondaga-county-hard-two-deaths
<p></p><p>Onondaga<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> County health officials are urging residents to get a flu shot after the flu season has gotten off to a strong start.</span></p><p>"What we are seeing is increased hospitalizations and increased number of cases. We are comparing last year’s versus this year’s. So there is a quite upsurge," said county health commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta.</p><p>Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:22:00 +0000Ryan Delaney66300 at http://wrvo.orgFlu virus already hitting Onondaga County hard with two deathsDraft rules for medical marijuana released by Cuomo administrationhttp://wrvo.org/post/draft-rules-medical-marijuana-released-cuomo-administration
<p></p><p>Cuomo administration officials who are devising regulations for medical marijuana in New York say it’s unlikely any patients in the state will get the drug before 2016.&nbsp; They say they are working through the details of how to implement the program, but there are still many unanswered questions.<br /><br />Aides to Cuomo say they’ve made some progress on figuring out how to manage a medical marijuana system that is still technically illegal in the United States.</p>Fri, 19 Dec 2014 10:01:00 +0000Karen DeWitt65831 at http://wrvo.orgDraft rules for medical marijuana released by Cuomo administrationVeterans learn to fish, relax through Project Healing Watershttp://wrvo.org/post/veterans-learn-fish-relax-through-project-healing-waters
<p></p>Tue, 11 Nov 2014 13:19:43 +0000David Chanatry64144 at http://wrvo.orgVeterans learn to fish, relax through Project Healing WatersWith election over, will Cuomo decide on hydrofracking?http://wrvo.org/post/election-over-will-cuomo-decide-hydrofracking
<p></p>Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:23:17 +0000Karen DeWitt64086 at http://wrvo.orgWith election over, will Cuomo decide on hydrofracking?NY's congressional delegation split on Ebola responsehttp://wrvo.org/post/nys-congressional-delegation-split-ebola-response
<p>Federal lawmakers from New York are somewhat split on how to handle people traveling to the state from Ebola-stricken West African nations.Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:59:19 +0000Ryan Delaney63512 at http://wrvo.orgNY's congressional delegation split on Ebola responseCuomo defends Ebola quarantine policyhttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-defends-ebola-quarantine-policy
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Gov</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">. Andrew Cuomo defended his decision to quarantine travelers and health care workers returning from West Africa through New York City airports if they’ve been in contact with Ebola patients. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Cuomo has faced intense criticism since the policy was announced over the weekend, but says he’s doing what he thinks is necessary to keep the public calm and safe.</span></p>Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:14:12 +0000Karen DeWitt63482 at http://wrvo.orgCuomo defends Ebola quarantine policyAG candidate proposes tougher laws, more treatment to combat heroinhttp://wrvo.org/post/ag-candidate-proposes-tougher-laws-more-treatment-combat-heroin
<p></p>Mon, 20 Oct 2014 09:55:00 +0000Ellen Abbott63128 at http://wrvo.orgAG candidate proposes tougher laws, more treatment to combat heroinCuomo says state preparing for potential Ebola caseshttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-says-state-preparing-potential-ebola-cases
<p></p>Fri, 17 Oct 2014 09:59:00 +0000Karen DeWitt63051 at http://wrvo.orgCuomo says state preparing for potential Ebola casesMahoney: Central New York is prepared if Ebola arriveshttp://wrvo.org/post/mahoney-central-new-york-prepared-if-ebola-arrives
<p>Officials in Onondaga County want to be ready if a case of Ebola turns up in central New York. Earlier this week, all of the players who would be involved in treating the virus laid out a road map for Ebola preparedness.<br />Thu, 16 Oct 2014 10:17:03 +0000Ellen Abbott63011 at http://wrvo.orgMahoney: Central New York is prepared if Ebola arrivesCuomo says conflicting studies make it hard to draw conclusion on frackinghttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-says-conflicting-studies-make-it-hard-draw-conclusion-fracking
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo made some of his most extensive comments on the controversial topic of hydrofracking to date.<br /><br />For the past two years, ever since the governor asked his health department to conduct a health review, Cuomo has had little to say about the review, or even what was being studied. He would only say that the work was continuing.<br /><br />Cuomo now says it is a challenge for his administration to hurry a decision, because there is new and often conflicting evidence emerging every day.<br />Thu, 09 Oct 2014 09:41:48 +0000Karen DeWitt62738 at http://wrvo.orgCuomo says conflicting studies make it hard to draw conclusion on frackingConcerns over care from veterans toward Syracuse VAhttp://wrvo.org/post/concerns-over-care-veterans-toward-syracuse-va
<p></p><p>The Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center got an invited earful from veterans about their care. The hospital hosted a town hall on Thursday.</p><p>The first question at a town hall-style meeting in the basement of the V.A. came from Navy veteran Bob Stewart. It was not in high praise of the V.A.</p><p>Stewart was denied coverage for surgery on his knee, so he had to pay out of pocket at a private hospital.</p><p>"I could afford to do that. There are so many veterans out there that can’t afford to do things like that. And something needs to be done about it," he said.</p>Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:24:54 +0000Ryan Delaney61946 at http://wrvo.orgConcerns over care from veterans toward Syracuse VARaw food diet in its 'natural state'http://wrvo.org/post/raw-food-diet-its-natural-state
<p>The raw diet has received a lot of attention from celebrities and health conscious people recently. But what actually constitutes a “raw” diet? Is it the temperature? It may just be a few simple changes that will not alter your lifestyle, just your health.</p><p>This week on <em>"</em>Take Care," <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Yuri_Elkaim">Yuri Elkaim</a> talks about what it really means to be on a raw diet. Elkaim is a registered holistic nutritionist, fitness expert and health coach, as well as a former professional soccer player. He currently writes a fitness blog at U.S. News and World Report.</p><p><strong>Click 'Read More' to hear our interview with Yuri Elkaim.</strong></p><p>Sun, 14 Sep 2014 23:00:00 +0000Take Care Staff53350 at http://wrvo.orgRaw food diet in its 'natural state'Contagious respiratory virus hits three children in central New Yorkhttp://wrvo.org/post/contagious-respiratory-virus-hits-three-children-central-new-york
<p></p><p>There are three confirmed cases in central New York of a highly contagious respiratory virus that health officials said was only a matter of time before it struck children here.</p><p>Two school-aged children from Onondaga County and one from a neighboring county were admitted this week to Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse with the Enterovirus 68, according to county health officials and the hospital.</p>Fri, 12 Sep 2014 21:20:02 +0000Ryan Delaney61724 at http://wrvo.orgContagious respiratory virus hits three children in central New YorkMedical marijuana legal in N.Y., but will insurance pay for it?http://wrvo.org/post/medical-marijuana-legal-ny-will-insurance-pay-it
<p></p><p>Marijuana has been approved in New York for medicinal uses for people with certain ailments, but that doesn’t mean using it will be simple.</p><p>It’s a bit of a going-nowhere-fast loop when it comes to health insurance providers offering coverage for medicinal marijuana.</p>Mon, 01 Sep 2014 10:14:25 +0000Ryan Delaney61033 at http://wrvo.orgMedical marijuana legal in N.Y., but will insurance pay for it?This week: the prevalence of depressionhttp://wrvo.org/post/week-prevalence-depression
<p>“Like any other form of medical illness or disease, major depressive disorder results in a good deal of suffering, incapacity and, often, vocational disability,” says psychiatrist Ronald Pies, a professor at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.</p><p>About one in 14 adults in the United States are depressed. That is about 16 million Americans. In addition, some 2 million adolescents from age 12 to 17 deal with depression. Pies says people with depression are at increased risk for cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and suicide.</p>Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:13:37 +0000HealthLink on Air61091 at http://wrvo.orgState Fair infirmary equipped to handle emergencies big and small http://wrvo.org/post/state-fair-infirmary-equipped-handle-emergencies-big-and-small
<p></p>Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:34:10 +0000Ellen Abbott61060 at http://wrvo.orgState Fair infirmary equipped to handle emergencies big and small How will medical marijuana use go over in the workplace? http://wrvo.org/post/how-will-medical-marijuana-use-go-over-workplace
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">While medical marijuana will soon be legal for some illnesses in New York, legal experts are warning there are some unanswered concerns over when and where it can be used.</span></p><p>In about a year and a half, people with illnesses like cancer or AIDS will be able to use medicinal marijuana legally for pain and loss of appetite.</p><p>But will those patients be allowed to be high in the workplace?</p><p>Labor attorney Michael Macomber, with the firm Tully Rinckey, says marijuana is still an illegal drug at the federal level after all.</p>Thu, 28 Aug 2014 11:05:05 +0000Ryan Delaney60970 at http://wrvo.orgHow will medical marijuana use go over in the workplace? SUNY Oswego prepares for Tobacco Free 2015http://wrvo.org/post/suny-oswego-prepares-tobacco-free-2015
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">SUNY Oswego is joining a growing number of colleges in the United States going smoke free on campus.</span></p><p>The college will be completely tobacco-free starting Jan. 1, according to Jerald Woolfolk with SUNY Oswego.</p>Fri, 15 Aug 2014 10:45:46 +0000Gino Geruntino60443 at http://wrvo.orgSUNY Oswego prepares for Tobacco Free 2015This week: sudden cardiac arrest, deep vein thrombosis and chronic hepatitishttp://wrvo.org/post/week-sudden-cardiac-arrest-deep-vein-thrombosis-and-chronic-hepatitis
<p>A new style of implantable defibrillator is providing options to patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. The device is sewn below a patient’s skin, leaving the heart and its vessels untouched. Electrodes continually analyze the heart’s rhythm and the device uses a pulse generator to deliver a shock if necessary.</p><p>Dr. Traian Anghel explains how this device improves upon previous defibrillators which had to be implanted in the heart.</p>Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:46:51 +0000HealthLink on Air59440 at http://wrvo.orgThis week: cancer care and nutritional issueshttp://wrvo.org/post/week-cancer-care-and-nutritional-issues
<p>Medical director Dr. Leslie Kohman and others provide a preview of the Upstate Medical University Cancer Center, including advanced technologies, and services available for the youngest patients with cancer and blood disorders.</p><p>Then, registered dietitian Maria Erdman addresses nutritional issues that cancer patients may face.</p><p></p>Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:53:53 +0000HealthLink on Air58668 at http://wrvo.orgMedical marijuana becomes legal in New Yorkhttp://wrvo.org/post/medical-marijuana-becomes-legal-new-york
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">New York is now the </span>23<sup>rd</sup><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> state to allow medical marijuana, now that </span>Gov<span style="line-height: 1.5;">. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill into law. But, it will be some time before patients will have access to the drug.</span></p>Tue, 08 Jul 2014 05:32:00 +0000Karen DeWitt58483 at http://wrvo.orgMedical marijuana becomes legal in New York